Henan Team Intensifies High-Altitude Training and Accelerates Player Recruitment

Reporter Lu Mi, Kunming After traveling 21 hours from the snowy city of Zhengzhou to the warm climate of Kunming, the Henan team reached the Hongta Base on the night of the 20th. Following a night of rest, they began the second phase of winter training with two sessions in a single day. It is worth mentioning that Henan has accelerated its player signings, hoping to meet their winter training targets with Ramos at the helm.

In the first phase, Henan conducted physical conditioning training in Zhengzhou, while the second phase takes place in Kunming. The team originally planned to arrive in Kunming on the evening of the 19th, but heavy snowfall in Zhengzhou caused flight delays and eventual cancellation, forcing the team to stay near the airport overnight. After multiple arrangements by the club, good resting conditions were secured, though concerns remained due to travel complications and flight uncertainties. Fortunately, the team successfully arrived at their destination on the evening of the 20th.

Players arrived carrying large bags, fully prepared for the upcoming two phases of winter training. On the morning of the 21st, head coach Ramos immediately increased the intensity by scheduling two training sessions: strength training in the gym from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by field training starting at 4 p.m.

Henan is the last Chinese Super League team to return from break. Although they have just arrived at high altitude, Ramos is confident in the players’ adaptability. He explained that due to playing the FA Cup final in December last year, the players’ break started later than usual. “We needed a normal cycle to bring every player back to their regular physical condition. During the break, I assigned homework to the players, and when we regrouped in Zhengzhou, I saw that everyone had adjusted well.”

In Zhengzhou, Henan completed four days of training with Ramos organizing five sessions. “The players have rebuilt their physical reserves. Tactically, I want them to retain the key points from last season’s matches. Additionally, the coaching staff provided individual training for some players.”

Before heading to Kunming, the coaching staff developed a detailed training plan aimed at meeting winter training objectives while avoiding injuries.

Fans are most concerned about the squad. After the morning training on the 21st, a new foreign winger arrived in Kunming, and final contract negotiations are underway. Along with forward Gustavo, who joined earlier, Henan’s foreign player roster is nearly complete. If the contract is finalized, the club will announce it promptly.

Regarding domestic players, there has been considerable roster movement. Players like Liu Xinyu, Huang Zichang, and Niu Ziyi have left, while loaned players such as Xu Haofeng have returned. Overall, the main domestic player framework from last season remains intact. Ramos said, “Last year, we had some redundancy in certain positions. This year, we aim to streamline the squad and bring in fresh talent to boost immediate competitiveness.”

During training in Zhengzhou, forward Yin Congyao and midfielder Abulahan have signed with the team and are awaiting official announcements. Currently, the team still needs reinforcements in defense and central midfield. After arriving in Kunming, some trial players for these positions joined the squad. In the first day’s field training, all players participated in group scrimmages, with Ramos conducting evaluations.

Henan’s first warm-up match during winter training is scheduled for the 25th against San Zhen, who have also been training in Kunming for several days. Currently, San Zhen has only one foreign player participating in joint training and has played two practice matches. After finishing their Kunming training, San Zhen will head to Bangkok for four more matches to conclude their winter training.